Method and apparatus for contacting gases with solid contact materials



NbvQ 11', 1947. J. A. CROWLEY, JR 2,430,569 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTACTING GASES WITH SOLID CONTACT MATERIALS Filed July 13, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- ORNEY M, CROWLEY, JR 2,430,89 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR con'mcwme GASES wn'u SOLID CONTACT MATERIALS Filed July 13, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 $0 41 wwzeywy HNVENTOR Nov. 11,1947. LE R 2,430,669

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CDEJ'I'AC 'IING' GASES WI'IIH SOLID CONTACT MATERIALS Filed July 13, 1944 3 sheets-sheet a INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1947 A I I v I 2,430,669 I UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE IMETl IOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTACT- lg lg! (gASES WITH SOLID CONTAC'I' MATE- John A. Crowley, Jr., Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Incorporated,

a corporation of New York Application July 13, 1944, Serial No. 544,781

9 Claims. (01. 196-52) E z This invention has to do with methods and become apparent in the following description of apparatus for contacting gases with particle form the invention.

solid contact materials for purposes of gaseous The successful operation of processes involving reactions, gaseous-solid reactions, gaseous-solid continuous flow of particle form contact mass heat exchange or any of a number of other purmaterial as in the cracking and regeneration poses. Exemplary of the processes or this kind steps of the continuous conversion process outis the cracking conversion of relatively high boillined above, requires that the rate of flow of the ing point hydrocarbons to gasoline and other contact material be uniform throughout the reproducts at suitable conditions of temperature action zones of these vessels. When gra u and pressure in the presence of a particle form 10 material is discharged from the base of a vessel solid adsorptive catalytic contact mass material. through an outlet of relatively small size com- Such contact material may take the form of par d w t t e cross-s tion of the v se th natural or treated clays and/or various associavelocity of flow will vary widely across a horitions of silica and alumina-either natural or zontal cross-section of the vessel and will be synthetic, various carrier materials containing reatest directly above the outlet. This differadded materials such as metallic oxides and ence in velocity decreases at higher levels in the other adsorptive materials. In a most recent vessel, but, practically, equal velocity and even form this operation has been developed as on flow is never obtained in a large vessel if its cross in which the particle form solid contact mass sectional area is much greater than that of the material is moved cyclically through two zones outlet. Previous methods have involved the use in the first of which it is subjected to reaction of grates or multiple ports individually regulated and in the second of which it is subjected to in an attempt to achieve even flow of particle the action of a fluid regeneration medium, such form material in large vessels. Grates present as a combustion supporting gas, acting to burn mechanical dimculties, and the individual and off contaminant materials deposited upon the 5 concurrent control of multiple ports is too comcontact mass during reaction. plicated for practical manual control and auto- This invention has specifically to do with procmatic regulators prove expensive and troublesome esses and apparatus for conduct of such processes under high temperature operating conditions.

wherein gases are contacted with a column of The present invention not only avoids the above flowing particle form contact mass material. dimculties and permits maintenance of substan- A major object of this invention is the protially uniform downward flow of particle form vision of a method and apparatus by which solid within a vessel of large cross-section while particle form solid material may be withdrawn said solid is withdrawn from the bottom of said from a vessel of relatively large cross sectional vessel through a single or through relatively few area wherein a. substantially compact column of outlets of small cross-section, but also requires said solid material is maintained while mainthe devotion of a relatively small fraction of the taining substantially uniform downward flow of vessel height for the purpose, and substantially saidsolid across all portions of said column and reduces the volume of the zones of stagnant solid while permitting uniform vapor contact of all which otherwise would be present in the lower portions of said column within the vapor conend of said vessel. Moreover, this is accomtacting zone of said vessel. plished with relatively little decrease in the solid Another object of this invention is the provolumetric capacity or free cross sectional area vision of method and apparatus whereby particle for gas flow within the small height of the vessel form solid material may be withdrawn from a devoted to the apparatus of the invention. vessel of large cross-section while maintaining .The invention may be more readily understood uniform downward flow of said solid across the by reference to the drawings attached to this entire cross sectional area of said vessel therespecification. In these drawings Figure 1 is an above. elevational view, partially in section, showing a A specific object of this invention is the protypical conversion vessel provided with means for vision of a method and apparatus in such 'a equalization of solid flow therein by the method process as above described wherein all portions of this invention, and Figure 2 is a pictorial view.

of a column of flowing particle form solid con-' of a cutaway section of the lower end of such tact mass material may be uniformly contacted a vessel with the baiile arrangement of this inwith gasiform reactants in the reaction zone. vention therein. Figure 3 is an elevational view,

These and other objects of this invention will partially in section, showing the lower end of such vessels and the nature of solid flow therein, without the bailies this invention. Figure 4 is a similar view showing the nature of the solid flow after addition of the lowermost baiile, Figure 5 is a similar view showing the nature of the solid flow after the addition of a complete set of bafiies, Figure 6 is an elevational view, partially in section, showing the application of a simplified form of this invention to a vessel of relatively small cross-section and Figure 'l is a similar view showing the application of a modifled form of the invention to a vessel of different construction. Figures 8, 9 and 10 are cutaway views showing the efiect of baille slope on zones of stagnant solid material thereabove and solid free zones therebelow. All of these sketches are highly diagrammatic in character,

Turning now to Figure 1 we find 20 is an elongated conversion vessel closed at its upper end i and having a conical shaped bottom 25 to the lower end of which is connected the solid material outlet conduit 26 with flow control valve 21' therein. Connected through the top of the vessel is the solid material inlet conduit 2|, and connected to the shell of the vessel near the upper and lower end thereof are the vapor outlet and inlet conduits 22 and 23, respectively. The inlet conduit 23 is typical of a row of said conduits spaced across the vessel at that cross-section and each or said conduits terminate within the vessel 20 under an inverted channel 2| which extends substantially across the vessel,

Within the lower end of vessel 20 and sym-.

metrically positioned above the entrance to the outlet conduit 26 is the inverted conical shaped baffle 28 supported within the shell by suitable means such as support rods 29. Supported somewhat above baiiie 26 and symmetrically thereto is the hoop shaped ballle 30 supported from conical drain section by some suitable means such as rods 3|. Likewise supported from the shell of vessel 20 by similar means are similar hoop shaped bailies 32 and 33 concentrically placed.

All of these baiiles are of such construction and so positioned as to provide substantially uniform downward flow of solid across the entire crosssection of the vessel within a short distance above the baifles 32 and 33. In operation'gaseous hydrocarbons at reaction conditions of temperature and pressure may be introduced through conduits 23 and distributed by channels 2. The hydrocarbons then pass upwardly through the column of uniformly flowing solid contact mass material particles 34 and finally leave the conversion vessel through the conduit 22. At the same time contact mass material maybe introduced to the vessel 20 through pipe 2| and withdrawn through vessel Ill! having a conical drain section ii and having a solid material outlet'condult 26, the cross sectional area of which is substantially less than that of said vessel. Also shown is the flow throttle valve ll on conduit 26. The vessels shown in these figures are intended to be generally circular in cross-section for the purposes of discussion.

As shown in Figure 3, when solid material is withdrawn from a vessel of large cross-section through a single centrally located outlet oi relatively small cross-section in the absence of baffling within said vessel the downward flow of solid at any given horizontal plane within said vessel above said outlet is greatest in the center directly over the center of said outlet and is progressively less the further the radial distance within said vessel from said center line. Moreover if lines be drawn in a general lengthwise direction through points of equal solid flow within the vessel on a vertical plane through the axis of said vessel, a number of concentric zones of approximately parabolic shape will result representing zones of progressively decreasing linear solid flow. Several of such imaginary lines are represented by the dotted lines in Figure 3 thereby dividing the column of material into several zones of unequal solid flow. The difference in density of solid particles as shown in these zones is intended to represent difference in linear rate of flow of solid within said zones and not an actual diflerence in the packing of the solid in said zones. Thus, in zone 53 the solid is stagnant and does not flow at all, in zone 56 the linear rate of solid flow is very low, in zone 55 the rate of solid flow is moderate and in zone 56 the rate of solid flow is excessive. It will be understood that at any horizontal plane within any of these zones excepting zone 53, the rate of solid flow gradually decreases with increasing distance from the central axis of the vessel 50. For practical purposes, however, let it be assumed that in Figure 3 the dotted lines, confining zone 56, confine substantially all of the portion of the column or solid within vessel wherein the downward linear rate of solid flow is substantially above that rate of flow which would be obtained if, for any set volumetric rate of solid withdrawal from the vessel, the solid were withdrawn uniformly from the the single centrally located conduit 26, the flow I 28, 30, 32 and 33.

The method by which the baflies accomplish entire cross-section of the bottom of vessel 50.

Then any material within zone 56 can be said to be flowing at an excessive linear rate of flow. It is with this meaning that the term excessive linear rate of solid flow or its equivalent is used hereinafter in the description and claiming 01 this invention.

According to the method of this invention a baille 28, see Figure 4. is supported within the conical drain section 5i of vessel 50 symmetrically over the outlet 26. The baiiie'28 is of sumcient projected horizontal area to substantially prevent flow of solid at the level of the base of said baflle and shortly thereabove substantially their purpose may be more readily understood by throughout at least that zone having an excessive rate of flow in the absence of the battle. As a result a new zone 51 of substantially no solid flow is formed directly above the baiile 28. The boundary of this zone is determined by the angle of internal flow of the solid material, and this zone is of relatively small volume. Moreover a new zone in which there is substantially no solid particles at all will be formed directly below the baille 28 and the boundaries of this zone are determined by the angle of repose of the particle form solid material. The angle of rethrough. Above the hole there will be a conewithin which material moves to and through the hole, and outside of which material remains in place. The angle between an element of the cone and the horizontal is the angle of internal flow which is greater than the angle of repose. The angle of repose and the angle of internal flow will 6 sectional area between baflle 30 and baille 28. Thus the volumetric flow of solid from zones 66 and 61 past the battle 30 will be substantially proportional to the cross-section of said zones. It will be apparent that in vessels of extremely large cross-section even further subdivision of the excessive flow zones will be necessary by pro-, vision of another row or rows of baflles similar to'baflles 32 and 33 and thereabove. It will be obvious that in any case a slight variation in rate of solid flow will still exist across zones such as a 68, 69, 10 and II, and that this variation may be vary depending upon the nature of the particle form solid involved. For dry granular and cylin-- drical clay type materials, the angle of repose is of the order of 25 to 35 degrees with the horizontal and the angle of internal flow of the order of 60 to 80 degrees with the horizontal, The use of 'bailie 23 will result in a substantial reduction of the zone of stagnant solid 53 along the walls of the lower end of vessel 50, said reduction being zone of stagnant solid 51- formed thereby. Moreover, the use of the bafile will shift the zone .of excessive flow from the central axi of the vessel.

of considerably greater magnitude than the new It will be noted that the horizontal cross sectional.

area of the annular zone of excessive flow 56 in Figure 4 is substantially greater than that of the central zone of excessive flow 56 in Figure 3. It

' follows that the average linear rate of solid flow in the annular zone is proportionately less than that in the central zone.

Referring now to Figure 5', we find the baiiies 36, 32 and 33 added within the vessel. Baiile 30 has been positioned in such a way as to substantially prevent solid flow at its level substantially throughout that area, of the vessel formerly occupied by the excessive flow zone 56, of Figure 4. Lines drawn at the angle of internal flow of the solid from the edges of the bafiie 30 will indicate the boundaries of a small new zone of stagnant solid 64. Lines extended vertically from the apices of the zones 51 and 64 will indicate the boundary between two new zones of flow now existing, zones 66 and 61. It will be seen from Figures 4 and 5 that the total cross-sectional area of the two new zones of flow 66 and 61 is substantially greater than that of the annular zone of flow'56. As a result, the rate of solid flow in the zones 66 and 61 is lower and more uniform than that in zone 56. Within the central portion of each of these zones the solid flow may be excessive .and the baflies 32 and 33 are positioned across these portions of such zones. These bafiles likewise give rise in each case to two new zones of flow thereabove. The excessive rate of flow zones have now been sufficiently broken up as to within a short distance above the baffles 32 andv 33. It will be seen that these zones together cover the entire'vessel cross-section. The positioningof the baffle 30 as will now be described is also typical of the positioning of the baiiles 32 and 33,- Looking at a horizontal cross-section of the vessel 50 at any level above baflle 30 and below baiiles 32 and 33, the zone 66 will be seen to be circular in section and the zone 61 to be annular in section. The bafile 30 should preferably be so positioned that the ratio of the cross sectional area of zone 61 to that of zone 66 is substantially the same as the ratio of the restricted vessel cross-section between baffle 30 and the conical vessel shell 5| to the restricted cross made smaller, the greater the number of rows of baflles. 1 It is generally practical to tolerate a small relatively unimportant variation of solid flow in such zones in the interest of the economy of construction obtained by the use of the least possible number of baifles. It will be noted that a zone of excessive flow 56 has been created below the baffles and-a small restricted zone of slow solid flow immediately above each baflie, but these zones being of small volume and being restricted to the portion of the. vessel devoted for the purpose, of flow equalization are of minor importance.

In vessels of smaller cross sectional area wherein the difference in cross-section between the central solid material outlet and that of the vessel is small, the use of two baflies may be sufllcient to provide substantially uniform solid flow in the column thereabove. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 6 in which is shown, partially in sections the lower end of a vessel 45 having solid outlet conduit 26. The baflle 28 and 30 are supported within this vessel.

Although the discussion hereinbefore has been limited to vessels of circular cross-section, this inventionis not limited thereto. Vessels of any desired shape may be used provided that the construction and shape of the baiiles are modified accordingly. Generally it is preferable that the bailles have the same projected horizontal shape as that of the vessel in which they are used. Use of more than one solid material outlet with corresponding multiple arrangements of baflles within large vessels is a possible but less preferable form of this invention.

The vessels shown hereinabove have all been shown with conical or tapered bottoms which is desirable in so far as such construction largely eliminates pockets of stagnant solid material in the bottom of the vessel, especiall when the slope of the tapered sides of the drain section are greater than the angle of repose of the solid material. Where such zones of stagnant solid are not objectionable in the lower section of the vessel, the bottom thereof need not be tapered. Such a construction is shown in Figure 7 in which is shown the lower end of a vessel 40 having a rounded bottom 4|, a centrally located solid material outlet 26 with throttle valve 21 thereon, and gas inlet conduit and channels 23 and 24 respectively. Also shown are ballies 28, l5, l6 and 71. It will be noted that the bailles l6 and I1 are sloped in an opposite direction from the baiiles shown heretofore. Such bafiles may be sloped in either direction within the scope of this invention provided that the bafiles are properly positioned. It will also be seen that the vapor inlet to the vessel 40 is located below the level of the baiiies within the vessel. Since the battle arrangement of this invention does n t neces sarily require a reduction of fre soli material column area for vapor flow adjacent the bailles within a vessel which is substantially greater than that reduction caused by the row of vapo material.

distribution channels themselves, the introduction of gas below the level at the baiiies within the vessel becomes feasible. This permits some use of the space devoted to battling for conversion or treating purposes. a

The use of the flow equalizing baflles is obviously not to be restricted to vessels devoted solely column through a vessel of large cross sectional area. Moreover, the baflles may be used in vessels wherein some sort of baiiie packing is provided in the reaction zone for the purpose of aiding gas-solid contact, provided that the pattern of such baflie packing is substantially uniformacross the entire cross-section ofthe vessel.

As has been shown the use of the baflles of this invention results not only in provision of uniform solid flow within a vessel thereabove, but also results in a substantial decrease in the volume of stagnant solid material within the vessel. This is of considerable importance in opera tions of the nature of catalytic hydrocarbon conversion wherein the solid material in such zones might gradually accumulate excessive amounts of cokey material. The proper slope of the baiiles is of some importance both as regards such zones ,of stagnant solid and as regards the formation of zones which are substantially free of solid Reference may now be made to Figures 8, 9 and 10. In Figure 8 are shown two horizontal bailies 85 and 86 within a column of downwardly flowing solid material, partof which column 81 is shown. Below the baflies 85 and 86 are the solid free spaces 88 and 85 respectively,

and above the battles are the zones of stagnant solid material 90 and 9| respectively. As hereinbeiore shown the stagnant material zones are determined by the angle of internal flow of the solid material and the solid free zones by its angle of repose. Turning now to Figure 9, we find the same baflies positioned at a slope of approximately 45. It will be seen that the solid free zone has been entirely eliminated and the stagnant flow zone substantially decreased. .In Figure 10, the same baflies are shown positioned at a slope of approximately 60 and it will be observed that the zone of stagnant solid has been still further reduced. It will be noted that larger baflles are required as the slope thereof is increased in order that their projected horizontal areas cover the same vessel cross-section. It is generally practical to compromise between reduction of solid free zones and stagnant zones on the one hand and size of bailles-on the other hand. Obviously such compromise as also the precise dimensioning and positioning of the baiiies themselves will depend largely upon the nature of the solid material involved in a particular application, the nature of the process involved and the size of the vessel involved. In general the baiiles should not be positioned essentially vertically and preferably they should be positioned so as to form an angle with the hurlzontal between about 30 and '10 degrees.

It should be understood that all the foregoing illustrations of the method'and apparatus of this invention and the use thereof are intended merely as illustrative and are in no way intended to limit the scope of this invention.

I claim:

'1. A method for maintaining uniform flow of a column of particle form solid and of gaseous hydrocarbon reactant through an elongated 8 a. chamber of substantial horizontal cross section area comprising: maintaining a column of down! wardly flowing particle form solid within said chamber, replenishing said column at the upper end thereof with said solid, withdrawing said solid from a substantially central location at the bottom of said column as a single throttled stream of solid, baiiling the flowing solid within the lower.

end of said column directly above said central drain location so .as to create a peripheral zone of solid flow in said column, adjacent said bafliing, of substantially greater cross sectional area than that ofsaid central baflied area, baflling at a level above that of said first-named baiiiing said peripheral'zoneof solid flow substantially across that portion of its cross sectional area where the linear rate of flow of the solid would be excessive in the absence of said baiiling so as to divide the solid flow in said column immediately thereabove into two zones of solid flow having a total cross sectional area substantially greater than that of said peripheral zone of flow, the relative amounts of volumetric flow of solid from the zones of flow thus formed to said peripheral zone of flow being substantially in direct proportion to the relative horizontal cross sectional areas thereof, further baiiling the flowing solid within said column at other levels spaced above said latter baflling level in such a way as to progressively increase the number of zones of solid flow above each of said bafliing levels, said further baiiiing being continued until the downward linear flow of solid above the uppermost of said bafiiing levels is practically uniform across the entire column crosssection, said baiiiing in said peripheral zone of flow and at said other levels thereabove being accomplished-by means of baflles each of which is in the form of the frustum of a thin-walled, hollow cone; and at the same time passing gaseous hydrocarbon reactant through said column including that portion wherein said solid flow is baifled.

2. In a process of the type described a method for maintaining uniform flow of a column of par ticle form solid through an elongated chamber of substantial horizontalcross sectional area comprising: maintaining a column of downwardly flowing particle form solid within said chamber, replenishing said column at the upper end thereof, continuously withdrawing solid from the 'bottom of said column in a single throttled discharge stream while bafliing said solid flow within the lower end of said column at at least two elevational levels, the baiiling at any of said levels above the lowermost being accomplished by inclined bailies, each of which has at any point along its length the vertical cross-sectional shape of a thin metal slat having its two parallel broader surfaces positioned at a slope with the horizontal so less than 70 degrees and greater than 30 degrees and.being so placed as to substantially restrict solid flow at those portions of the cross sectional area of said column where the linear rate of flow of solid would be excessive in the absence of baflling at that level; and at the same time passing gaseous material through said column including that portion wherein said solid flow is bathed.

3. A method for contacting gaseous reactants with a moving column of particle form solid contact mass material with substantially uniform downward flow of all portions of the contact mass material column comprising: maintaining a column of downwardly moving particle form solid contact mass material, replenishing said column 7 at the top thereof, baiiiing the solid flow in said column at a level near the lower end thereof with a. plurality of spaced, annular, band-type baiiles, concentrically arranged, each of said annular, band-type bailies having its inner and outegsurfaces substantially parallel and being of! small thickness between said inner and outer surfaces and having said'parallel inner and outer surfaces set on a slope with the horizontal which is greater than the angle of repose of said solid and less than its angle of internal flow, said baffies being so placed as to substantially restrict solid flow at those portions of the cross sectional area of said column at said level where the linear rate of flow of the solid would be excessive in the absence of likewise so placed as to substantially restrict the solid flow at that portion of the cross sectional area of said column at said second level where the linear rate of flow of solid would be excessive in the absence of battling at said second level, further bailiing said solid flow at a third and still lower level within said column with a substantially centrally placed baiile having the shape of an upright cone, the sides of which form an angle with the horizontal greater than the angle of repose of said solid and less than an angle of 90 degrees with the horizontal, said baiiie being such as will substantially restrict solid flow at that central portion of the column cross sectional area where the linear rate of flow of said solid would be excessive in the absence of said baflling at said level, finally withdrawing solid from the bottom of said column at a location substantially centrally located directly below said latter bafiie in a single throttled discharge stream, and at the same time introducing gas to said column at a level below said bafliing at controlled reaction temperatures and withdrawing gaseous products from said column at a level above said bafliing.

4. An apparatus for contacting gases with particle form solid material comprising: an elongated vessel laterally confining a substantially compact column of downwardly flowing particle form solid material, means to introduce said solid near the top of said vessel, conduit means, substantially centrally located on the bottom of said vessel for withdrawing said solid, means associated with said withdrawal conduit for throttling the fiow of solid therethrough, a baiile, substantially centrally located, supported within the lower end of said vessel a short distance above and directly over said withdrawal conduit, said baffie having a projected cross sectional area substantially less than that of saidvessel but suflicient to prevent the flow of said solid at the level of said baiiie and,

shortly thereabove in substantially all that central portion of the vessel cross-section where the linear j rate of flow of the solid would be excessive in the absence of said baflie, said balile thereby creating a peripheral zone of solid fiow within said vessel adjacent the baiiie, a second bailie ofhoop type and having closely spaced,v parallel, sloping sides supported within said peripheral zone of solid flow at a level within said vessel shortly above the lower extremity of said former baflie, said second baiile having such a projected horizontal cross sectional area between the projections of its inner and outer peripheries as to prevent solid flow at the level of said baiiles and shortly thereabove substantially throughout that portion of the cross-section of said peripheral zone of solid flow where the linear rate of solid flow would be excessivein the absence of said baflle while permitl0 ting the flow oi solid adjacent the edges of said bailie on either side thereof, thereby creating two zones of solid flow in said vessel above said baille from which zones solid flows to said peripheral zone of flow at relative volumetric rates of flow proportional to the relative cross sectional areas of said zones of flow, said zones of flow thereby providing substantially uniform vdownward solid flow throughout theentire cross-section of said vessel thereabove, gas handling means communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level below said baflles and gas handlingmea'ns communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level above said baflles.

5. An apparatus for contacting gases with particle form solid materialv comprising: a vessel laterally confining a substantially compact column of downwardly flowing particle form solid material, means to introduce said solid near the top of said vessel, conduit means, substantially centrally located on the bottom of said vessel for withdrawing said solid, means associated with said withdrawal conduit for throttling the flow of solid therethrough; a centrally located bailie arranged above and spaced vertically away from said withdrawal conduit to prevent direct fiowof solid thereinto and create a peripheral zone of solid flow, above said first-named bafile an annular shaped baiiie located in said zone of peripheral flow to obstruct the flow of solid therein and create above it two zones of downward flow of solid, said annular shaped baffle being in the form of a thin annular band having its inner and outer surfaces substantially parallel and set at an angle with the horizontal, above said second-named baflie a pair of annular shaped, concentrically j gas inlet means connecting into said vessel below said bafiles and gas outlet means connecting into said vessel above said bafiles.

6. An apparatus for contacting gases with particle iorm solid material comprising: a vessellaterally confining a substantially compact column of downwardly flowing particle form solid material, means to introduce said solid near the top of said vessel, conduit means, substantially centrally located on the bottom of said vessel for withdrawing said solid, means associated with said withdrawal conduit for throttling the flow of solid therethrough, a centrally located baifle having upwardly converging sides arranged above and spaced vertically away from said withdrawal can'- duit to prevent direct flow of solid thereinto and v a system of annular shaped secondary bailies' associated therewith, each of said secondary baflies being comprised of a single sheet strip having its side set at an angle with the horizontal greater than 30 degrees-and less than '70 degrees, the said secondary baiiles being so located and of such projected areas as to substantially prevent the persistence through any substantial vertical distance in the reactor of zones wherein the solid material flows at an excessive rate, gas handling means communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level below said baifies and gas handling means communicating the interior of some said'vessel withthe eiterioratalevel above said bailies.

7. An apparatus ticle form solid material eomprising: a substantially vertical vessel suitablefor confining a substantially compact column of downwardly flowing particle formsolid material, means to admit said solid near the upper end of said vessel, means to withdraw said solid from a substantially central location at the bottom of said vessel; flow throttling means associated with said' withdrawal means; a system of bailles placed at spaced vertical levels within the lower end of said vessel, the baiiie at the lowermost level being substantially centrally placed above said solid withdrawal means and having upwardly converging sides which form an angle greater than the angle of for treatment of moving par-- of the cross section of said peripheral zone of solid flow wherein the linear rate of solid flow would be excessive in the absence of said baiile while permitting the flow of solid adjacent the edges of said baflle on either side thereof, thereby giving repose of said solid with the horizontal and each 7 of the baflles at the said levels thereabove having at any point along its length a vertical crosssectional shape corresponding to that of a thin metal slathaving its broader parallel surfaces positioned to form an angle with the horizontal greater than the angle of repose and less than the angle of internal flow of said solid, all of said baiiles at any of said levels being so positioned and having such a projected horizontal crosssection as to prevent the solid flow substantially throughout that portion of the vessel crosssection at said level where the linear rate of flow of the solid would be excessive in the absence .of

the baiiies while permitting solid flow adjacent the edges of said baii'ies on either side thereof, said baifles starting with the lowermost thereby acting to gradually increase the number of zones of flow within said vessel to such an extent as to provide substantially uniform downward flow of solid across the entire vessel cross-section above the uppermost level of bailies, gas handling means communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level below said bafiies and gas handling means communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level above said baflles.

8. In an apparatus of the type described for conducting gaseousreactions in the presence of a moving particle form solid contact mass material with substantially equal utilization of all portions of the contact mass; an elongated vertical vessels suitable for confining a substantially compact column of downwardly flowing particle form solid contact mass material; means to introduce said solid near the upper end of said vesel; conduit means substantially centrally located upon the bottom of said vessel for withdrawing said solid; fiow throttlingimeans associated with said withdrawal conduit, a baflle, substantially centrally located, supported within the lower end of said vessel a short distance above and directly over said withdrawal conduit, said baiile having sides converging upwardly at an angle with the horizontal greater than degrees, said baflle having a projected horizontal cross section of approximately the same contour as that of said vessel and substantially less than that of said vessel but sufllcient to prevent flow of said solid at the level of said baiiie and shortly thereabove substantially throughout that central portion of the vessel cross section where the linear rate of flow of the solid would be excessive in the absence of said baille, said bafile thereby creating a peripheral zone of solid flow within said vessel adjacent the edges of said baffie; a second baiile of annular shape supported shortly above the base of said first bafiie and symmetrically within said peripheral zone of riseto two zones of solid flow in said vessel above said baiile from which zones the relative VOlllr metric rate of solid flow to said peripheral zone of flow is directly proportional to the relative cross-sectional area of said two zones of flow, similar annular shaped baiiles having similarly sloped sides supported concentrically, one in each of said two zones of solid flow created by said second named baiiie a short distance above said second named baiile, each of said bafiies similarly breaking up a solid material zone of flow into two zones of fiow thereabove, said resulting zones of flow providing substantially uniform downward flow of solid throughout the entire cross section of said vessel thereabove; gas passage defining means communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level below said baffles and gas passage defining means communicating the interior of said vessel with the exterior at a level above said bailies.

9. In a process of the type described a method for maintaining uniform flow of a column of particle form solid through an elongated chamber of substantial horizontal cross-sectional area comprising: maintaining a column of downwardly flowing particle form solid within said chamber, replenishing said column at the upper end thereof, continuously withdrawing solid from the bottom of said column in a single throttled discharge stream while balding said solid flow within the lower end of said column at at least two elevational levels, the baiiling at any of said levels above the lowermost being accomplished by means of inclined, spaced ballies each of the baflies having at any point along its length the vertical crosssectional shape of a parallelogram, the broader .sides of which are close together and positioned at a slope with the horizontal not greater than the angle of internal flow of said particle form solid material, the baflles at any given level being so placed as to substantially restrict solid flow at those portions of the cross-sectional area of said column where the linear rate of flow of solid would REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Dgze 1,702,311 Pantenburg Feb. 1 1929 2,331,433 Simpson et al. Oct. 12, 1943 1,553,944 Laughlin Sept. 15, 1925 (Other references on following page) Number 240,533 501,249 933,898 665,689 2,385 703,784

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 1, 1925 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1939 France Sept. 14, 1909 France Sept. 21, 1929 Germany Dec. 15, 1877 France May 6, 1931 December 1, 1943, pages R;-563, 564, 566 "and 567. (Copy in Div. 31.) 

